Oh my god, have you ever heard of this festival called ACL? It's like totally awesome.

I'm thinking someone should declare September to be official ACL Month in Austin, because that's all you hear about for the week before and the week after the festival. It gives everyone something to talk about. Even if you didn't attend, you can talk about the traffic or how you heard Bob Dylan was getting old or how you went to ACL a different year.

As for me, I went to ACL in 2004 (more famously known as the year the Pixies played) and attended all 3 days. Well, kind of. After one day of that will-breaking heat I only saw a couple bands on Saturday and then the Pixies (and Dashboard Confessional, peripherally, while waiting for the Pixies) on Sunday. This was also the year when I walked all the way from 21st street to Zilker Park so I could bypass the shuttle and make it in time for Broken Social Scene. I felt very tough that day.

This year I decided to learn form past experience and only attend one day of ACL: Friday. I ran into DJ Tim on campus and we decided to make the trek down to Zilker together after my 1 o'clock class. Apparently a propane tank exploded (explaining the billows of smoke and fire-trucks we saw on the way there), which led to long lines when we made it to the park.

I made use of my Media wristband and stealthily entered the festival through a staff entrance, making it to Corporate Stage #4 just in time to hear Peter, Bjorn & John whistling away with their 2006 summer jam, Young Folks. I didn't really care for PB&J's album other than that damn catchy tune, so I caught a few songs from Blonde Redhead, as well. After that, I had to down a couple water bottles to try and re-hydrate myself after about an hour of sweating.

Then was my favorite part of ACL, a line of clouds appeared overhead and I think at least 10 raindrops fell on the festival. I smoked a victory cigarette, then Tim and I went and camped out for LCD Soundsystem. Since the coordinators of ACL brilliantly scheduled the two hippest bands at the same time on Friday, we stayed for the first half of LCD Soundsystem and then snuck over to see M.I.A.

LCD Soundsystem sounded pretty good. It was very similar to the recordings and James Murphy's vocals and snarky commentary did not disappoint. I was not a big fan of the high school kids standing next to me that were talking about how the "asian chick" (a woman playing synth, working some effects pedals and doing female vocals for the band) was hot. People have no shame and high schoolers kind of freak me out anyway. I pretty much never see anyone younger than 18 in my daily routine and you'd better believe I get confused when I see a baby. What is that miniature person doing toddling around drunkenly at this time of day?

Anyway, there more young'uns looking hip in their weather-inappropriate leopard skin tights over at the M.I.A. stage. I'd never seen a pop star perform before, and it was unusual to see someone performing without a band. M.I.A. entertained with her sexy dance moves and even invited the crowd on stage to join her at one point. She performed Paper Planes - gun shots and all (unlike her recent Letterman performance) - and I must admit there is something about that sound effect that gets me in the gut.

Being the awkward college music fan that I am, I decided to skip out of the festival early to avoid the large crowds and mass exodus for Bjork (I know, you are so disappointed in me) so I could go home, shower and relax.

Despite all the talk of how ACL is giving smaller acts exposure, I wasn't very impressed with this year's line-up. I will give major props to Fun Fun Fun Fest, which is coming up in November. The festival will highlight a lot of excellent, upcoming indie bands - spanning metal, indie pop, electronic and hip-hop music - with a selection of artists that is much more diverse than ACL was sporting this year. This is only the 2nd year of Fun Fun Fun Fest and it looks like it could become one of the best independent music festivals in the country.